Why It's Important to Get a Back-to-School Sports Physical

As the new school year approaches, it’s time for college and high school athletes to get ready for the next sports season. While this time is full of the excitement of tryouts, practices, and game time, there’s one key step that student athletes shouldn’t overlook: the back-to-school sports physical. 

At Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, our health specialists understand the significance of this important check-up, and how it supports the overall well-being and performance of student athletes.

With locations in Nuremberg, Freeland, Falls, Hazleton, LaPorte, Wilkes Barre, Noxen, Shickshinny, and Edwardsville, our Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania team has a center convenient to your student athlete. And if transportation is a concern, our van service can bring your athlete to and from the center. 

Keep reading to learn why a sports physical is important, and the different ways it helps safeguard your student athlete’s health.

Prioritizes your health and safety

Back-to-school sports physicals evaluate your health and fitness level to identify any potential issues that can interfere with your participation or put you at risk during sports activities. This helps prioritize your health and safety both on and off the field. 

Your comprehensive sports physical exam is conducted by our experienced providers, who take into account various factors, such as your:

• Medical history
• Current health status
• Cardiovascular health
• Musculoskeletal health
• Overall physical condition

Your provider also addresses any specific concerns related to your chosen sport. 

Identifies hidden issues

Young athletes aren’t always aware of underlying conditions that could pose a risk to their health during physical activity. Conditions such as asthma, heart abnormalities, or allergies can be asymptomatic or undiagnosed.

When you participate in sports, the physical activity your body engages in can sometimes trigger flare-ups or make these conditions worse. By having a sports physical, these hidden health issues can be identified before they become a problem in practice or during a game. 

Your Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania provider creates a personalized treatment plan when needed, offering necessary precautions and modifications to training or participation to ensure your safety and well-being.

Helps prevent injury

Sports physicals also play a key role in preventing sports-related injuries. Our health specialists carefully evaluate your musculoskeletal system, checking for any weaknesses, imbalances, or limitations in joint mobility. 

By identifying areas of concern, we can provide targeted recommendations for injury prevention, such as:

• Specific strengthening exercises
• Customized warm-up and cool-down routines
• Personalized guidance on nutrition and hydration

When you take proactive measures based on the results of your sports physical, you minimize your risk of sports-related injuries. 

Parent-student connection

Sports physicals aren’t just beneficial for student athletes. For our high school athletes, these appointments provide parents with valuable insights and information, helping build a stronger parent-student connection.

When your student athlete comes to the Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania for a sports exam, you gain a comprehensive understanding of your child's health, any potential risks they face, and specific recommendations for supporting your student’s athletic goals. 

By involving parents in the process, our team creates a collaborative approach to the young athlete's well-being, encouraging open communication and a shared commitment to supporting their athletic goals while prioritizing their health and safety.

Boosts overall wellness

Sports physicals also address the mental and emotional well-being of young athletes. Our specialists take the time to discuss topics such as stress management, proper sleep habits, nutrition, and the importance of healthy school-sports-life balance. 

These conversations aim to support you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, developing resilience, and preventing the burnout or excessive pressure that can come with playing a team sport. Our providers focus on nurturing the holistic well-being of young athletes, empowering them to embrace success on and off the field.

Book an appointment for your back-to-school sports physical with a provider at your nearest Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania office in Nuremberg, Freeland, Falls, Hazleton, LaPorte, Wilkes Barre, Noxen, Shickshinny, or Edwardsville, Pennsylvania. 

Worried about paying for your sport physical? Our practice accepts most forms of health insurance, and we also offer a sliding fee schedule for those who qualify.